Tag Retention and Effects of Tagging on Movement of the Giant Red Sea Cucumber Parastichopus californicus

We examined tag retention and the effects of tagging on short-term movements of the giant red sea cucumber Parastichopus californicus. Retention rates were monitored for six different tag types (Floy banner FTSL-73. cinch FT-4C, fingerling FTF-69. garment. single T-bar FD-94, and the coded wire tag), which were applied to 30 individuals under laboratory conditions. The single T-bar and coded wire tag had the highest retention rates: 70% and 60% after 16 weeks, and 40% and 37% after 32 weeks. To assess the effects of tagging and handling on movement, a field study was conducted in Amalga Harbor. Alaska, in which giant red sea cucumbers were tagged with T-bar tags and monitored for 24 h. Tagged and handled animals moved significantly farther than control animals. The median (linear) distance moved by control animals over 24 h was 1.8 m (range, 0.2-4.2 m), whereas the median distance for tagged animals was 4.2 m (range, 0.4-22.7 m). Short-term behavior was affected by both tagging and handling; therefore. we recommend that researchers minimize handling and wait at least 24 h after tagging before monitoring giant red sea cucumber movements.